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[made_up_names]

[ Hey look, it's another teenager! A totally and completely normal teenager that has managed to scrounge up some clothes that aren't just whatever the hell he was wearing under his suit. Looks like a hoodie and some kind of shirt that looks like it might be nerdy? He tried for a nerdy aesthetic, anyway, which is hard when he doesn't even know what nerd culture looks like here. He's seated outside in Nova City somewhere, trying to figure out what to do next.

Anyway. He. Waves awkwardly? ]

Hey, um. I'd ask if people really just introduce themselves online like this without making it like "Welcome to My Star Wars Vlog And/Or Podcast" but I went back and looked at a bunch of posts and I guess that's exactly what it is? Which is cool. But weird? I'm weirded out.

[ Focus, Peter. Maybe breathe a little. He looks incredibly awkward, which is still only 50% of the Awkward Peter Parker Experience. ]

Anyway, I'm Peter Parker! I just got here like. A couple hours ago? And I have one really super important question.

[ Pause. Try not to look too excited. Look incredibly excited. ]

Did I see something about Pokémon? Like, actual physical Pokémon? Is that real or is this some super convincing AR thing? Because I'm down with both but if it's the first kind I am literally going to explode.

Comments

[mysteryhero]

[He silently stares at Peter for a long moment. It might be unsettling. He looks like he's contemplating a lot of things but his expression is unreadable. Finally, he nods and speaks again.]

So what work did you have in mind to do?

[made_up_names]

[ It is unsettling. Peter can't quite manage to hold his gaze the whole time. Sooner or later, his eyes slip away. God, this dude still creeps him out. ]

Hell, I don't know. Try out a couple of different tech things, see if I find something that fits. Maybe chemical engineering.

[mysteryhero]

Maybe they could use your skills at Aster. We could be working together.

Aside from being a superhero team.

[In his way, Beck wants to keep an eye on Peter as much as Peter wants to make sure Beck causes no more harm.]

[made_up_names]

[ It's not actually a terrible idea. He could absolutely snoop on Beck's work and make sure it doesn't take a turn for the supervillainous. As for Pete, well. He's used to building stuff out of scraps with nothing but a soldering iron, so he can do all the really important stuff at his apartment. ]

All right, I'll ask. Maybe.

[mysteryhero]

Good.

Now, what about your living conditions? Did they give you a key?

[He could be crossing the line of being intrusive - or was it protective? In his fake persona the latter motivation would have been more easy to believe. As it was, all this concern may seem more like information gathering.]

[made_up_names]

[ Yeah, uh. Beck gets a flat look at that. ]

I've got a place somewhere. Yeah.

[mysteryhero]

Where?

[made_up_names]

None of your business.

[mysteryhero]

[Now it's his turn to hold up his hands in surrender.]

Fair. Fair.

We all need some privacy.

[made_up_names]

[ Fine, he'll make his hackles go down. A little. ]

Uh, yeah. I wouldn't tell any random middle-aged dude where I live, much less you.

[mysteryhero]

Do you think I'm going to break into your apartment during the night?

I'm not some common criminal.

[made_up_names]

You're right. A common criminal doesn't have elaborate backup plans that involve broadcasting all my personal information to the world.

[mysteryhero]

In that case, do you think it would be so difficult for me to find out where you live? Instead, I was asking you in a civil manner.

[He's really not helping his case of being less creepy...]

[made_up_names]

[ He really, really isn't. ]

Violating my privacy by asking nicely is still violating my privacy, okay. Also thanks for the extra paranoia.

[mysteryhero]

Peter, I underestimated you. You would be wise not to underestimate me.

I know what you're thinking.

... Not literally. But you think I'm trying too hard, don't you? To make this work. You think maybe I'm asking too many questions.

[made_up_names]

I definitely know you're asking too many questions. If you wanna find out where I live, do it the hard way.

[mysteryhero]

I don't suppose it's important. There are many cities here and you can move anywhere at any time.

It has advantages here to where we come from.

[He doesn't elaborate on what exactly he thinks those advantages are.]

[made_up_names]

[ Peter can probably guess at some of them. For him, at least, he's counting on the fact that very few people know he's Spider-Man. ]

If it's not important then you definitely don't need the info. Hard pass, dude.

[mysteryhero]

I know. I stopped asking, didn't I?

[made_up_names]

Sort of sounded like you were still digging.

[ Sigh. But. Fine, he can let it go. ]

If you're actually concerned, then don't be. I've been homeless twice.

[mysteryhero]

I'm not allowed to be curious or concerned?

[Probably not when he's often so manipulative for all the wrong reasons.]

Why would a kid like you ever be homeless?

[made_up_names]

[ Yep, that's exactly it. ]

Alien invasion when I was eight. Part of a building fell on my aunt's house, wiped out everything we had.

[mysteryhero]

Ah, yes... An Avengers-level event.

[made_up_names]

Yep. The original Battle of New York. Between the mess and the cleanup, we were in homeless shelters for three weeks.

[mysteryhero]

I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been very frightening for you.